Articulated car



v. wlLLouGHBY 1,876,185

ARTICULATED CAR Filed Nov. 1. 1930. 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6, 1932.

v. wlLLouGHBY 1,876,185

ARTICULATED CAR Filed Nov. 1. 1930 s sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 6, 19.32.

Ww r. s? A h a. m1

Sept. 6, 1932.

V. WILLOUGHBY ARTICULATED CAR Filed Nov. l, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TIE ZEE-

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNiTED STATES PATENT carica.

vieron WILLOUGHBY, or mnGEWoon, NEW JERSEY, .assIorNonJ "ro AiiIERIoN CAR AND FOUNDRY coMrANv, or NEW Yonx, N. Y., 'A oonPoN-ATroN or Naw JERSEY..

ARTICULATED CAR Application filed November 1, 193D. Serial No. 492,689.

One object of this invention-.is the provij sion of an articulated car formed of a pluralo ity of-car bodies, the adjacent ends of which are supported by independent, spaced truck holsters. l

Another objectoil thisinvention is the provision of an articulated car formed of a .plu-

rality of car bodies, the adjacent ends` of which are connected to independent, spaced holsters by means of center bearings onvthe holsters which are engaged by center bearbodies.v t

f- Fig. 1-,is a sectional viewvof a modified form ings carried by the adjacent end portions of the car bodies respectively.' 't

Still another Aobject of this invention isthe provision of new and improved means for connecting the adjacent endvportions of two bodies of an articulated car.

A further object of. the'y invention isthe provision of anarticulation joint for the adjacent end Vportions of two car bodies wherein means are provided-for transmittingtraction stressesfrom the bodies to a truck, and'wherein coupling means for the adjacent bodies is provided which also prevents relative lateral shifting between the bodies.

A still further object of theinventionis theprovision ofa connection for the adjacent i 3 end portionsof adjacentcar bodies of an articnlated car which includes interconnect- Y ed-or interitted car body `connection castings o cent bodies and which areadaptedY to take jected. This invention further v provision oi a new and improved con- V nection casting.

In order to permit passengerstofpass from one car body to the other a footplate between .the adjacent end portions of the carbodies is provided and thepresent invention. contemplates a means .for supporting the foot4 plate huttng shocks to which the bodies are sub- Y ofthe foot/plate. A

5 Fig. 14. isasectional view of theportion Aof the 'foot .plate shown inFig.V 13.5

.i iswafragm'entaryview, ythegsame contemplates the insucha manner as to maintain lthe same` in proper positionirrespectlve vof the relative positions of the vcar bodies. f

Other objects andadvantages of this invention will be apparent :from the,Yfollowingny description vtalien'in conjunction ,with the Y .following drawings in which l Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the j adjacent end portions of adjacent carbodies Vvmore or less diagrammatically; 'the figure havmgcertaln'parts broken away, other parts shown in section, and still other parts omitted inorder to more clearly show theinven'tion.

Fig. 2 isa sectional view through ythe articulation jointof the present'invention, the4 View also showing, more lor vless vdia-grammatically,`a portion of a ca r truck.

Fig.4 3 is an end view of one of thehcar shownrin Fig. 5.

y VFig. 7 is a sectional view on the line shown asT-7,F1g.5. I il A A F1g. 8 is a frontelevation ofthe casting shownin'Fig. 5.

F ig. is a top plan view vof the body connection Vcasting `for the other car body,`.jthe

in'FignQ.V i g Fig'lO isV ay side elevation, of the casting showninFig-9. j f

Fig. 1l is a sectional view onthe line 11411,

same being a companioncasting to that shown Figi). .Y Fig. 1,2 is a front elevationv of 'the casting shown in Fig. 9'.

Fig; 13 is atop plan-,view otaiportion showinga-,portion of a-trucl bolster with the the body supportingmeans for the foot plate shown kattached;thereto,.and ,f 4

spaced diaphragms 12 arranged between and in side elevation, the body and truck side bearings.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the end portions of adjacent car bodies are indicated generally at A and B; said bodies each having side sills 2 and an end sill, the latter comprising channels 4 eX- tending from the side sills toward the longitudinal center line of the car bodies and being indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 and one thereof being shown in section in Fig. 16. The end sill channels 4 extend to the center sills of the bodies A and B which center sills comprise spaced channels 6 (see Fig. 1). Ad-l jacent the end sill of each body a cross bearer is arranged, the same comprising aplate 8 arranged transversely of the body and er;- tending between and connected to the lower flanges of the side sills as shown at 10, and

secured to the webs of the side sills and center sills by suitable fasteners such as rivets or the like; the cross bearers serving to stillen the end portions of the car body underframes as will be apparent. End cover or floor plates 16 are arranged over the center sills, end sills, side sills and cross bearers of the respective bodies and are secured in place by suitable lfasteners such as the rivets 18.

The end portions of bodies A and B are i provided with doorways framed by U-shaped channel pieces, portions 20 of which define door posts 5. As shown clearly in Fig. 1, one flange 22 of each door post projects beyond the car body to which the channel piece is secured and serves as an attaching means for a U-shaped, flexible diaphragm 24 arranged between the bodies A and B and which provides a covered passageway for the articulated car.

Arranged beneath the adjacent end porl tions of bodies A and B is a pivot truck, in-

dicated generally at C. For the greater part,

f. the truck C is shown more or less diagrammatically and in the description to follow only the parts necessary to an understanding of the present invention will be specifically pointed out and described. The truck C includes spaced bolsters 26 which, in operation, are independent, and each thereof is provided with a truck center plate 28 which is circular in form and is provided with a centrally arranged vertical apertured lug 30; the lug defining an annular recess 32 which receives a circular body center bearing 34, formed with and depending from a body center'casting indicated generally for body A at D and indicatedgenerally at E for body B; the

castings being companion castings which are secured to the respective car body underframes as presently to be described. As more clearly pointed out hereinafter, the castings D and E rest upon the plates 8 of the end cross bearers.

The specific construction of the castings D and E is shown in Figs. 5 to 12; Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive illustrating casting D for body A, while Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive illustrate casting E for body B; the figures being arranged in relation for purposes seating portion 44 which is adapted to rest upon the plate 8 as shown in Fig. 2, and the end projection 36 is undercut to provide an arcuatebufling portion 46 which overlaps the reduced forward end 48 of companion' casting E; the latter, with the exception of the construction at the forward end thereof Abeing similar in all respects to casting D,

and hence the same reference numerals are applied theret-o. 9 to l2 inclusive, casting E is provided with a projection 50 at its forward end having a portion of its top surface cut away to provide the reduced end 48 heretofore mentioned `which, when the car bodies are assembled,"

underlies the forward end of the projection Fig. 2 clearly shows the arrangement of the castings D and E when the car bodies are assembled and it will be apparent that the castings D and F are mating or companion castings the mated or interiitting portions of the respective castings j forming bufling areas indicated at 51. rfhe interi'itting pro-I jections of the castings D and E are each provided with al vertical aperture which. when the respective bodies are assembled as in Fig. 2, are aligned with the apertures in the lugs 30 and receive pivot locking pins 52pwhich eri-,

tend into the apertures in said lugs; the pins having heads'at the upper ends thereof which are countersunk in the respective castings. The'castings D and E are provided with side walls 41, and said castings are of such size as,

to fit between the webs of channels 6 of 'the center sills with the side walls41 in engage ment with the webs of said channels tobe cured thereto by suitable fasteners such an rivets or the like.

As shown clearly in Figs.

The castings DV and E are further providedl with horizontal recesses 54 which receive aV coupling link 56 through which the pins 52 'extend (see Fig. 2') to hold the link in position. rlhe link 56 has a relatively loose fit inV the aligned recesses 54 to permit relative vertical movement between the car bodies A and B bnt relative lateral shifting of the bodies is reduced to a minimum bv the link and its connection,'in the castings, through the medium plished by the interfitting ofthe castings D l.

and E, and, referring to Fig. 2, it will be apparent'that should bodv A tend to lower-rela tive to body B, the projecting or overlapping portion 46 of casting D will contact with the reduced portion 48 of casting E and either be prevented from shifting-vertically downward relative to body'Bor will transmit to casting Eand hence body B, a portion of its load, thereby equalizing the load between the tivo bodies and causing the bodies to maintaindefinite fixed relation with respectv to each other. SliouldbodyA tend to raisegor be elevated relative'to body B, or vice versa,

should body B tend to Alower relative tov body A, the reduced portion`48 of projection 50l of casting E'will contact with a horizontally arranged abutment 58'` formed with the bearing plate 28 onV the bolster-beneath car bodyA. The iiiterfitting of the castings D `and E further provides a means for taking buiiing shocks to which the car bodies are subject as hercinbefore mentioned.

Reference has heretofore been made ofthe body center bearings 34and 'it will be apparent from the drawings that these center bearings are formed with and depend from the end projections of the castings'D and E; the center bearings 34 being circular in shape to fit the recesses 32 of the truck center bearings whereby vto support the respective end portions of bodies A and B and to permit swivelling of said Vbodies about lthe truck center bearing-s as a center.

,Between the adjacent bodies A and B a foot plate 62 is. arranged, the'saine fitting between threshold castings 64 secured to the adjacent endv portions of bodies A and B andcoinprising Varcuate Zv sections :secured jto'ftop cove-r plates 16, hereinbefore mentioned; the Z sections having their upper flanges .68 facing eachother to provide stops or abutments for retaining the foot plate 62 j in proper position as hereinafter more clearly pointed out. Y Y

VThe present invention contemplates novel means for supporting the foot plate andl now, referring to Figs. 1v and 15, it can be l seen that the bolsters 26 are each provided ends of guide pins 7 2 extend, the latter having retaining, keys 74 through their lower ends and having heads 76 at their upper ends arrangedin openingsformed'iii the fo'otplate 62. vThe foot plate is resiliently supported and normally urged upwardly by meansof springs 78 encirclingthe pins 72 and bear-l ing between the upper ends of brackets '70v and Vspring plates 80 on the pins 72 beneath the heads 76. The footgplate '62 is urged upwardlyy against the vdanges 82 formed at the lower ends of 'plates 84 secured to the door posts 5 adjacent their lower ends.

The foot plate is stiften-ed by Z sectionsv 86 secured tothe under surface of the plate and having the lower `flanges thereof extended under the flanges 630i the threshold castings and provided withkweather stripping 88. .It will be apparent that due to the mounting of the foot plate as just described, the same is maintained, in a substantially horizontal plane at all times, irrespective of the relative positions of the adjacent. -eiid' ,portions of the bodies A and B. s j

To. disassemble the ,articulated jointfit is necessaryto removetliey pivot pins 52, and to vpermit this the foot plate 62 is provided with a removable portion 90 shown clearly in Figs..

.13 and ,14, supported by and secured to a frame 91r'iveted as at 92 to the main portion of the foot plate 62.

:Secured to vthe end sills'of car bcdies lA and B and arranged on each side of the ceni ter castings are body side bearing wear plates A 93 adapted toengage truck side bearings ysecured to the respective bolsters 26. In the present instance the truck side bearingsare shown` as rollers 9,4 but may of, courseassuine l lany kpreferred ordesired form.

clearly in Fig. 1, the sidebearingszare staggered on the two cars to permitthebofdy side :bearings to clear each other when the cars l .seen that the car-'bodies'A and B are provided'withcenter castings A'which are directly interengaged through the medium of a tonguevandgrooveconnection;v The casting on car A is indicated-'at 98 in this Fig. 4 and Ais providcdwith a horizontally arranged v,groei/e110() into which the projectionV or `tongue102 of the casting 104 of car B eX-" tends; this connection'pi"eventing relative nvertical shifting of vthe car bodies as will be apparent. i' f --From the above description it is believed that the construction of the car of the pres.-

ent invention will be fully apparent to those skilled inthe art. In operation, in passing around curves, the two car bodies and B will swivel in the lcenter bearings; 'Bufling shocksgto which'lthe cars may be subjected As shown tracks, by the link 56.

by tlieinterengaged relation of the projec- .tions on the respective center castings.

As each car body is supported by its own truck bolster, bearing plates and side be-arings, each body may oscillate or sway independently of or relative to the other.

The drawings herein disclose one embodiinent of the invention but it is to be understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and various changes in the form and .proportions of the construction may be made within the spirit of the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In an articulated car, a truck comprising a plurality of bolsters, a plurality of car bodies having adjacent end portions arranged over the truck, interengaging body connection castings secured to the said adjacent end portions to prevent excessive relative vertical shifting of the car bodies, and body and truck center bearings connecting the bodies and truck. i

2. ln an articulated car, a truck comprising a plurality of bolsters, a center plate on each bolster, a plurality of car bodies, and interengaging center castings carried by the adjacent end portions of said bodies and each provided with a center plate for respectively engaging the truck center plates.

3. In an articulated car, a truck comprising a pair of independent bolsters each having a truck center plate, a plurality of car bodies, interengaged center castings carried by the adjacent end portions of said bodies and each .having a body center bearing for engaging one of said truck center bearings, and a coupling link connecting the'car bodies.

4. ln an articulated car, a truck having a pair of bolsters each provided with a center plate, a pair of car bodies, body center castings carried by said bodies, said castings being interiitted to take buiiing shocks and to prevent relative vertical shifting of said bodies, body center bearings formed with the castings and each engaging one of said truck center plates, a coupling link between said castings, and pivot pins securing said coupling link and extending into the bolsters.

5. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, means for preventing ex- 'cessive relative vertical and sidewise shifting of the bodies, comprising interengaged body center castings for preventing excessive relative vertical shifting, said castings having normally alined horizontal recesses formed in their adjacent ends, anda coupling link `held in said recesses for preventing excessive relative sidewise shifting yof the bodies.v

Y 6. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck beneath the adj acent ends of said bodies, interen'gaged body and truck bearings for 'connecting' said bodies, interengaged body. center castings above said bearings for preventing excessive relative vertical shifting of the bodies, and a rigid member extending between and connected -to said ends for preventing excessive relative sidewise shifting of the bodies.

7. ln an articulated car, a pluralityof car bodies, a truck beneath the adjacent ends of said bodies, and means for connecting said bodies and truck comprising a pair of truck bolsters each provided with a center plate, overlapping center castings secured to the adjacent end portions of the car bodies, each provided with a depending center bearing rev` spectively engaging the center plates on said bolsters, an abutment on one of said bolsters underlying one of the center castings and adapted to contact with the overlying casting upon excessive relative `vertical shifting of one body whereby the bodies are maintained in substantially the same horizontalplane, and a coupling link extending between and secured to the adjacent castings for preventing excessive relative sidewise shifting of the car" bodies.

8. ln an articulated car, comprising a plurality of bodies and a single truck beneath the adjacent end portions thereof provided with. a pair of bolsters and a pair of center plates, means connecting said bodies, a. truck comprising body center castings secured to the adjacent end portions of said bodies and each provided with a center bearing adapted to engage one of the center plates, said casti ings having interengaging portions for preventing excessive relative vertical shifting of the bodies and having substantially abutting portions defining bufling areas and pivot, the latter being arranged eccentric with respect to the center of rotation of said bearings.

9. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies and a single truck beneath the adjacent end portions thereof, connecting bearings between said bodies and truck, including spaced bolsters with which said bearings are engaged, a foot plate between the adjacent end portions of said bodies, supporting elements resiliently mounted on the bolsters on each side of the bearings and engaging the foot plat-e Vfor normally urging the latter upwardly, and abutments securedV to said bodies against which the foot plate is retained.

10. ln an articulated car, a plurality of car bodies arranged end-to end in substantially abutting relation, a truck for supporting the adjacent end portions of said bodies provided with a pair of bolsters arranged respectively beneath said end portions, center bearings between the end portions and their respective bolsters, and a coupling link connecting said bodies and so arranged as to lprevent exces' sive relative sidewise shifting of the bodies.

11.` In an articulated oar, a plurality of car bodies arranged end to end in substantially abutting relation, a truck, a pair of bolsters carried by the truck and arranged respectively beneath the adjacent end portions of the' car bodies, connected body and truck center bearings' between the end portions and their respective bolsters, and means connecting the adjacent end portions of the bodies so arranged as to prevent excessive relative sidewise shifting of the bodies. 1 l

l2. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies arranged end to end in inter-engaged relation whereby excessive relative vertical shifting is prevented, and a rigid element extending between and connected tothe adj acent end portions of the bodies, said element being so positioned as to prevent excessive relative sidewise shifting of the bodies.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set In hand. f

VICTOR WILLOUGHBY. 

